Kopps out for 2018 season after having Tommy John surgery

Arkansas sophomore pitcher Kevin Kopps will miss the 2018 season after having Tommy John surgery ten days ago in Houston.

Kopps injured his throwing elbow during fall practice on a throw to third according to Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn.

"Looking at the video it looked like he hurt it making an off balance throw to third. There was a runner on second, one out and actually the base runner made a base running mistake. On a high chooper he(Kopps) fielded it and at the last second he looked back and saw the runner break and he just threw off balance side arm. He kind of shook his arm after that. Got on the mound and threw one pitch and said my arm hurts."

Arkansas coaches feel like the injury was just a "freak accident".

The injury ended a good fall campaign for the right hander from Sugar Land, Texas. Van Horn called Kopps one of his top relievers.

During his redshirt freshman season Kopps pitched well for the Hogs. He finished with a 3-1 record and two saves in 22 appearances for the Razorbacks. Kopps struck out 40 and walked 18 with a 3.31 ERA in 2017.

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